Support rack

ABSTRACT

A support rack for a plastic container having a content in excess of 1.5 gallons of liquid. Two or more support members extend from a wire body section, for engagement with apertures in the plastic container. A connecting section extends between the support members of first sides thereof, and supporting sections extend from second sides thereof for connection to a suspending support member. In one embodiment the support members are U-shaped and in another embodiment they are finger members. The support rack can be connected to the suspending support member in a stationary or swivel manner or can be part of a rolling cart.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] NONE

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] NONE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Technical Field

[0004] This invention relates to a supporting device for containers.More particularly, this invention relates to a support rack for largeplastic bags filled with concentrated liquid cleaning and sanitizerproducts.

[0005] 2. Background Art

[0006] Until recently, concentrated liquid cleaning and sanitizerproducts were supplied in rigid or semi-rigid plastic bottles. It hasnow become the practice to supply concentrated liquid cleaning andsanitizer products in flexible plastic bags somewhat the same ashospital solutions are supplied. The plastic bags offer many advantagessuch as cost savings, easy to handle larger containers, reduction inshipping weight and visibility of product. These advantages become moreapparent when the flexible bags are of a large capacity such as 1.5gallons. As the large flexible bags are not self-supporting, some meansfor supporting them in an efficient manner must be provided.

[0007] The objects of the invention therefore are:

[0008] a. Providing a support rack for a large capacity flexible bag.

[0009] b. Providing a support rack which affords a storing of the largecapacity flexible bags in a versatile and easy manner.

[0010] c. Providing a support rack of the foregoing type which isdurable.

[0011] d. Providing a support rack of the foregoing type which affordscomplete emptying of the bag.

[0012] e. Providing a support rack of the foregoing type which in someinstances is movable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The foregoing objects are accomplished by the support rack ofthis invention for a plastic container having a content of at least 1.5gallons of liquid which has a wire body section. The body sectionincludes at least two support members for engagement with at least twoapertures in the plastic bag. A connecting section extends between thesupport members at first sides thereof, and supporting sections extendfrom second sides thereof for connection to a suspending support member.

[0014] In one aspect, the at least two support members are provided bytwo upwardly extending, essentially U-shaped members and the supportingsections are provided by two spaced apart hook members for connection toa suspending support member in a vertical manner.

[0015] In another aspect, the at least two support members are definedby two upwardly extending, essentially U-shaped members and thesupporting sections are defined by an upper and lower leg section forconnection to a suspending support member in a swivel manner.

[0016] In yet another aspect, the at least two support members aredefined by two upwardly extending essentially U-shaped members and thesupporting sections are defined by two spaced apart arm sections forconnection to a wall surface.

[0017] In another embodiment, the at least two support members aredefined by a multiplicity of finger members and the supporting sectionsare defined by extensions of the finger members.

[0018] In yet another embodiment, a rolling cart is connected to theextensions of the finger members.

[0019] In still another embodiment, the finger members includeundulations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rack of this inventionsupporting a flexible bag.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of another embodiment.

[0022]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of still another embodiment.

[0023]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment.

[0024]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a shield for use with the rack ofFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, the support rack generally 10 includes awire body section 12 with two support members 14 and 16 extending in anupwardly position. A connecting section 18 joins the two support members14 and 16. Extending from the support members 14 and 16 are twosupporting sections 20 and 22 which include horizontal portions 17 and19 and terminate in hook members 24 and 26, respectively. The hookmembers 24 and 26 engage a suspending member 28 which is the lip of asink.

[0026] Support members 14 and 16 extend through openings 32, 33 and 35,36 of flexible bag 30. Bag 30 is preferably composed of a transparentpolyethylene and nylon plastic material with a nylon layer sandwichedbetween two layers of polyethylene. It is designed to hold at least twogallons of a liquid cleaner or sanitizer product. It should be notedthat the openings 32, 33 and 35, 36 are connected by the slits 38 and39, respectively. This is not only for the purpose of allowing thesupport members 14 and 16 to be positioned in the openings 32, 33 and35, 36, but also as an aid in preventing undesired entanglement duringhandling of empty bags. A valved outlet 41 is provided in the bag 30 forpurposes of delivering the contents to a dispensing system such as thatprovided by the Solutions Center™ Wall-Mount Dispensing System availablefrom Johnson Wax Professional of Sturtevant, Wis. A valved cap connector(not shown) would engage the valved outlet 41 in a manner so that whenthe connector cap is screwed on to the outlet 41 a valve in theconnector as well as the valve in the outlet 41 are opened.

[0027]FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 represent additional embodiments 10A, 10B and10C. The same numbers are utilized to refer to the same componentsexcept with the suffix “A”, “B”, and “C”. In embodiment 10A shown inFIG. 2, a swivel type unit is provided wherein the supporting section22A has an upper leg portion 43A for engagement in collar 47A ofsuspending member 45A. Supporting section 20A extends from supportmember 14A and has a lower leg portion 44A for seating in collar 48A ofsuspending member 46A. In this manner, when the support members 14A and16A are positioned in the openings 32, 33 and 35, 36, the bag can behung between various positions.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 3, embodiment 10B illustrates a unit forattachment to a wall (not shown). Supporting sections in the form of twospaced apart arm sections 20B and 22B are connected to brackets 50B and51B which in turn are fastened to the wall such as by fastening membersextending through openings 52B.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, embodiment 10C includes a multiplicity ofsupport members such as 13C-16C and 54C-57C. Eight bags such as 30 canbe accommodated on the support members with each pair of support memberssuch as 14C and 16C accommodating 2 bags. Undulations 68C providesuitable seating in the openings such as 32 and 33. Supporting sections20C-23C provide connection with a cart generally 60 by attachment withsupport arm 62 through which pass the bolts 64. The cart includes a basemember 66 with castors 68.

[0030] As seen in FIG. 5, a shield 70 is afforded for the bag 30 inconjunction with the support rack 10. It includes a front panel 72, twoside opposing panels 74 and 75, a top panel 76 from which extends avertical back panel 77 and a horizontal back panel 80. Opposing flaps(not shown) extend from the ends of back horizontal panel 80 forwrapping around horizontal portions 17 and 19 of supporting sections 20and 22, respectively. The flaps are connected in this position to theback horizontal panel 80 by Velcro fasteners 78 and 78 attached to boththe horizontal panel 80 and the flaps. Shield 70 reduces undesiredcontact with bag 10 such as with sharp objects. It is composed of asemi-rigid polypropylene plastic material which is translucent.

[0031] An important feature of the support racks 10, 10A, 10B and 10Care that they can support a flexible plastic bag containing a largevolume of liquid which in the instance of bag 30 is 2.5 gallons. Thisliquid may be in the form of a concentrated cleaner or sanitizer.

[0032] As seen from the previous description, the support rack can takevarious geometric configurations and is adaptable to being supportedfrom various types of supporting members and in some instances beingmovable in conjunction therewith. While the racks described herein arepreferably from one piece of wire, they can be composed of severalseparate parts interconnected such as by welding. However, this wouldadd to the cost. Further, while a shield 70 has been indicated for usewith the supported bag 30, it can be eliminated. All such and othermodifications within the spirit of the invention are meant to be withinits scope as defined by the appended claims.

1. A support rack for a plastic container having a content of at least1.5 gallons of liquid comprising: a wire body section, including atleast two support members for engagement with at least two apertures inthe plastic container; a connecting section extending between thesupport members at first sides thereof; and supporting sectionsextending from second sides thereof for connection to a suspendingsupport member.
 2. The support rack as defined in claim 1, wherein theat least two support members are defined by two upwardly extending,essentially U-shaped members and the supporting sections are defined bytwo spaced apart hook members for connection to a suspending supportmember.
 3. The support rack as defined in claim 1, wherein the at leasttwo support members are defined by two upwardly extending, essentiallyU-shaped members and the supporting sections are defined by an upper andlower leg section for connection to a suspending support member in aswivel manner.
 4. The support rack as defined in claim 1, wherein the atleast two support members are defined by two upwardly extendingessentially U-shaped members and the supporting sections are defined bytwo spaced apart arm sections for connection to a wall surface.
 5. Thesupport rack as defined in claim 1, further including a protectivecover.
 6. The support rack as defined in claim 1, wherein the at leasttwo support members are defined by a multiplicity of finger members andthe connecting sections are defined by extensions of the finger members.7. The support rack as defined in claim 6, further including a rollingcart connected to the extensions of the finger members.
 8. The supportrack as defined in claim 7, wherein the finger members includeundulations.